Scannable codes allow people to see how much carbon trees store

Published: 28 November 2023

People in Exeter can now see how much carbon newly planted trees store when they reach maturity.

Last week the City Council planted sixty trees across Exeter. All of the trees have tags on them containing a QR code. When scanned by a mobile phone or device, people can see the contribution individual trees are making to benefit the environment and help reverse climate change.

This week is National Tree Week and the planting of the trees throughout Exeter further underlines the City Council’s commitment to its green open spaces as well as its pledge to protect the environment and become net zero by 2030.

National Tree Week runs from 25 November until Sunday 3 December. It is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration.

The trees being planted in Exeter are to replace trees that have perished, were in bad health or had been vandalised. Others are being planted to add to the city’s tree population.

A further 40 whips are to be planted in hedges, as well as some fruit trees later in the season.

The latest batch of trees planted are a mix of native and non-native varieties matched to suit the various sites.

Cllr Josie Parkhouse, Lead Councillor for Climate and Ecological Crisis, said: “Trees in Exeter play a huge role in carbon reduction and are key to us becoming net zero by 2030. The QR codes are a great way for people to understand the crucial role that trees play in protecting the environment.”

A recent study from Treeconomics showed the true value of Exeter’s 179,000 trees to be valued at around £56.6 million for carbon storage.

Last year Exeter was ranked the top city centre in the UK for green spaces by the University of Sheffield.

In the study, Exeter came out the highest ranked city - out of a total of 68 – for greenness, the second best city for tree canopy cover and the third best for greenspace coverage.

To find out more about National Tree Week, visit the Tree Council website at https://treecouncil.org.uk/seasonal-campaigns/national-tree-week/